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A small piece of onion, parsley, or boiled potato is dipped into saltwater and eaten (after reciting the blessing over vegetables). Dipping the karpas is a sign of luxury and freedom. The saltwater represents the tears of our ancestors in Mitzrayim. This year may it also represent tears of Black parents and families mourning the loss of their Black youth at the hands of police brutality. 

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When we eat the maror, it makes our eyes water. Its bitterness turns our faces red. We lose control for a moment, and laugh because it's freeing. We cannot keep up appearances while eating maror, and so we don't try to.Our sinuses open up. We cry. We laugh. We cry, and we laugh at our crying.

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This set of readings was formulated in order to highlight and celebrate Miriam’s role in the deliverance from slavery and her leadership throughout the wandering in the wilderness. When the seder table is set, we place an empty cup alongside Elijah’s cup. Each attendee at the seder then pours a bit of his or her water into the cup. This contribution symbolizes that, at every stage of her life, Miriam was integral in the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. We...

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This song was written to be part of Fiddler on the Roof, but was cut from the show before it made its Broadway debut for being too slow, and comic at a moment in the show when the people of Anatevka are experiencing tragedy. It imagines a world in which the Messiah is coming, but lost, and worried about us. Words and music by Sheldon Harnick When Messiah comes he will say to us, “I apologize that I took so long.”...

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What a blessing to come from a culture that has such a rich story to tell, so full of symbols, like bitter herbs and charoset.

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What was the seder table when we only had Elijah’s cup? Incomplete. We open the door for Elijah, Angry prophet of the world to come. And we ask God to pay attention To the fire from the sky that was Elijah’s gift. Regretted necessity. Elijah announces the Moshiach Who then saves the Jews! Elijah, the bringer of justice. When you open the door don’t just say the prayer Read the translation, It’s a little scary So invite that in. Bring the...

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What a blessing to live in a world in which grass in the field can turn into bread. What a blessing to come from a culture that has such a rich story to tell, so full of symbols, like these matzot.

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What a blessing to live in a world in which fruit on the vine can turn into wine. What a blessing to come from a culture that tells stories and celebrates the seasons. What a blessing to exist in a universe that, after billions of years, has arrived at this moment, here and now, with us gathered around this table.

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In Talmud Pesachim, Rava teaches, "A person who swallows matzah without chewing fills the mitzvah, the commandment, to eat matzah. However, a person who swallows maror without chewing doesn't fulfill the mitzvah to eat maror." Matzah is Biblical fast food. Matzah is flat because the Hebrews were in such a hurry to get out of Egypt, they didn't wait for their bread to rise. They rushed out, eating crackers, because they had to eat something. Matzah is optimistic, portable, light and...

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Discuss as a group or in pairs at the Seder table: 1. Egypt, “mitzrayim” in Hebrew, comes from the word “tzar”: the “narrow place,” the constricted place. In what way are you personally still constricted? Are you able to see yourself as part of the unity of all being, a manifestation of God’s love on earth? Are you able to overcome the ego issues that separate us from each other? Can you see the big picture, or do you get so...

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רַבּוֹתַי נְבָרֵךְ All who sit around these tables, Friends and strangers, In peaceful conversation And pleasant disagreement, Those who remember and those who are remembered, On this Pesakh, We have shared this fine meal And such a fine story, We take this moment to acknowledge That we are blessed And, in our turn, We bless. בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּבָרוּך שְׁמוֹ Blessed be the Creator and the created, Blessed be the sustainers and the sustained. Blessed be the eaters and the eaten, Blessed...

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We will drink the first of four cups of wineAnd give up controlTo the wine, to the story, to God.We are in Mitzrayim, the narrow place, And God says to us:I Shall Take You Out,I Shall Rescue You,I Shall Redeem You,I Shall Take You to Me. Sanctify the day with the First Cup.I Shall Take You Out, sez God,From the burdens of Egypt.That's nice.  But what about The burdens of now?War, sex slavery, exploitation, inequality,Not much changes.We better get out from...

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So this is Maggid,The part of the seder where we tell the storyOf leaving Egypt.Actually,We spend more time talking about talking about the storyThen telling the actual story.Very meta is our haggadah,With many numbers,Lots of fours:Four questionsFour cups of wineFour children, Four ways of asking,Why is this night different from all other nights? The first child, Book smart.The wise childKnows all the rules.He's direct,No messin' around,This is what you do on Pesach:Tell the storyDip the herbsReclineDrink four cupsDon't eat leavened breadAsk...

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by Emma Lazarus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled...

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What a blessing to live on an earth that reawakens each spring to put forth fruits and vegetables.

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Our seder is over and done as best we could. May healing come to all the nations of the world. And may we find ourselves next year exactly where we ought to be!

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As we come to the end of the Seder, we drink one more glass of wine. With this final cup, we give thanks for the experience of celebrating Passover together, for the traditions that help inform our daily lives and guide our actions and aspirations. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen. We praise you, God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine. The Cup of Elijah...

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What a blessing to have friends at our table with whom to share this meal.

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Our seder is over and done as best we could. May healing come to all the nations of the world. And may we find ourselves next year exactly where we ought to be!

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What a blessing to live on an earth that reawakens each spring to put forth fruits and vegetables.

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What a blessing to have friends at our table with whom to share this meal.